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Urinary Problems During Pregnancy

Topic Overview

Most women have an increased urge to urinate during
pregnancy. This is a normal body response related to hormone changes that occur
during pregnancy and to physical pressure on the
bladder.

Bladder infections are more common during pregnancy. When a bladder infection
develops during pregnancy, you may have discomfort when you urinate or have a
strong urge to urinate but pass only a small amount of urine. Bladder
infections during pregnancy may increase your risk of
kidney infections,
miscarriage, and having a premature or
low-birth-weight baby.

The inability to urinate (retention) may be
caused by infection, pressure on the tubes that carry the urine from the
kidneys to the bladder (ureters), the use of
medicines, or a blockage of the
urethra. In rare cases, the urethra can become blocked
by a blood clot or
bladder stone. Call your doctor if you are unable to
urinate during your pregnancy.

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